Frame and steering means for motor cycles and like vehicles



Oct. 28, 1930. F. J. OSBORN ET AL 1,780,034 I FRAME AND STEERING MEANS FOR MOTOR CYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES Filed Jan. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 28, 1930. F J, OSBORN ET AL 1,780,034

FRAME AND STEERING MEANS FOR MOTOR CYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES Filed Jan. 15, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 6 a K g V //VVE/V70/-? WfiM @WALZW 1977' ORA/f V are 1:; F stener aonn-osnosn statesm n rnnnnnrcx'woon, or eosronr, E GLAND] omitted.

Patented oer. 28,1930 'j 1 v Wetsu ;s-TAT:Es3 PATENT?" OFFICE],

i RAME Ann 'srEnBINGfI EANsron MoTon -oYcLns Ann LIKEVEHICLES -Anp1icati6n fi1ed January 15,1930, Serial u 420,992, and in Great Britain Januar 's, 1929.

I The present invention relates to that type of frame for motor cyclesand the like wherem steering isaccomplished by-swinging a pair of links about axes on the frame, the

links converging towards the steering wheel and having their outerends pivoted to the wheel-carrying means. An example of such steering is given in. our U. S. patent specification N0. 1,715,246." r I In the present'lnvention, a pair of link structures: or the like are pivoted .to swing about axes on the frame, and the steering wheel axleis carriedxby a rigid frame or structure which spacesjor assists in spacing the outer :endsofthe link-structures, and, is slidable relative thereto against load-carrying springs in a direction substantially paralfl id to the link-structure-axes. p, r

In the accompanyingv drawings:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary side elevation of the front portion of a motor cycle frame and steering assemblage embodylng one form of my inventlon;

: Figure 2, a view similar to Figured, illus trating the preferred form of my invention;

Figure 3, a sectional view on theline 33 of Fig. 2, the steering wheel and mud-guard being omitted; and

, Figure 4, a the preferred form, the" mud-guard being In the embodimentillustrated in'Figur'e 1, links 1 are secured to-each endof a compara- 'tively long steering column on eac'h'side of the frame; pivoted within the steeringjheads 2, and are connected at their outer ends by tie-rods 3 to form the'said swingingstruc ,Jtures. These structures may have either rearward rake as shown, or be vertical or have .749 forward rake, and the links 1 may-extend forwardly or rearwardly from the steering heads 2. The steering wheel axle 4-is then carried by a pair of sleeves 5 sliding on the rods 3 against load springs 6 with or without rebound springs 7. The sleeves 5 extend upwardly sufficiently to be rigidly connected together above the wheel by a bridge 8. Sleeves 5, axle 4, and bridge ,Sfthus form a rigid frame or structure sliding on the tie-rods 3.

The preferredembodiment of the invenfragmentary top plan view'oftheabove arrangement wherein tubes 9 are respectively disposed concentrically about, andextend axially of, the tie-rods 3 -s o as to be pivotally connected thereto ortherewith to turn concentrically about the axes thereof respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 2 and is tion, however, consists in a modification. of

in more detail on an enlarged scale in'Fig: 3. Therespective sleeves 5 of the rigidwheel carrying frame are respectively concentrically disposed about the respective tubes 9 to be in substantially free sliding contact therewith at all pointsof the lengthof said-sleeves 5 V respectively, andsaid sleeves 5 are connected above or over the steering-.wheelby a rigid bridge 8which spans the wheel, as illustrated inFig.v 4, and isrigidly connected-to each of said sleeves 5, while the lower portions of said sleeves 5' are connected together by the steering-wheel axle 4, the respective end portions o t-which are connected toor-journaled in the respective collars 74 respeotively rigid with I the lower portions of the respective sleeves 5; I 1 7 The upper end'portions of the sleeves 9 are respectivelyreceived in the respective downwardly presented concentric sockets of the respective end portions of the spacing and con-V necting link 10, as best shownin Fig. 3, which link 10 has its respective-end portions bored concentric with the respective sockets to re ceive and providebearings for theupper end able anti-friction bearing means, diagrammaticallyiindicated in Fig.3, mayjbe provided for said tie-rods 3 in the respective end portions of said linklO and in the lower; end portions of the respective tubes V9, and the links 1 will have their outer end portions bored to receive and fit about the shouldered end portions of therespective tie-rods 3 and 1 portions of the respective tierods 3, and suit-i will be held thereon for partial rotation or Q turning movement therewith by suitable nuts, all as illustratedin detail in Fig. 3. The load springs, 6 are respectively disposed about the upper portions of the respective tubes 9vand interposed between upper spring cups carried by the respective sockets of the link 10 and the respective opposedzlowercups carried by the respec;

tive sleeves of the rigid steering-wheel 10, as illustrated in Fig. 3. However, this obviously is not essential, nor are the rebound springs In operation therespective tie-rods 3 are 1 immovable with relation to their respective pairs of links 1, but will move therewith in an arc, and will be held in definite spaced relation to each other by the link and the rigid steering-Wheel carrying frame comprising the sleeves 5' rigidly connected by and to therigid bridge 8.

As the tie-rods 3 are swungvby the links 1 laterally to one side or the other in an arc the end portions of link 10 and the tubes 9 will respectively be free to, and will, turn or pivot on their axes about the respective tie-rods 3, while the respective sleeves 5' will be free to turn or pivot about the tubes 9 and, consequently, about the concentric tierods 3, and to slide axially of the tubes 9 and tie-rods 3 respectively under the influ ence of road shocks and jars as opposed and modified by theload springs 6 and rebound springs 7, which will function in usual known manner. j

What we claim as our invent-ion and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i '1. Ina motor cycle or like frame having steering means comprising pairs of links pivoted to the frame and converging towards the steering wheel and joined at their outer ends by tie-rods, spacing means for said tie-rods comprising in combination tubes pivoted thereon and joined at one end by'a link, and sleeves sliding on said tubes and joined by the'steering-wheel axle and by a rigid bridge over the wheel,said bridge being rigidly connected to each, of said sleeves. V 2. In a motorcycle or like frame having steerin means comprising pairsof links pivoted to the frame and converging towards the steering wheel and joined at their outer ends by tie-rods, spacing means for said tie-rods comprising in combination tubes pivoted thereon and joined at one end by a link, sleeves sliding on said tubes and oined by the steering wheel axle and by a rigid bridge over the wheel, and a load spring located between said bridge and said link, saidbridge being rigidly connected to each of said sleeves.

3. A motor cycle frame comprising a mam frame, a rigid steering-wheel carrying frame,

a pair of links respectively piv oted to said main frame and to said rigid frame, and load-carrying cushioning means carried by said links, said rigid frame bridging the steering-wheel and being adapted 'to slide co-axially with the pivots of said frame to said structures.

5. A motor cycle or like frame having steering means comprising a pair of link structures pivoted to swing about axes on the frame and converging towards the steering wheel, each said link structure comprising a rod extending substantially parallel to the respective swinging axes of said link structures, in combination with a rigid steering-wheel carrying frame consisting of sleeves respectively disposed about, and adapted to have movement axially of, said rods, a rigid bridge rigidly connected to each of said sleeves, and an axle for said wheel, said axle having its respective end portions connected to the respective sleeves.

6. In a motor cycle or like frame having steering means comprising pairs of links pivoted'to the frame and converging towards the steering wheel and joined at their outer endsby tie-rods, spacing means for said tie-rods comprising in combination tubes pivotedon said tie-rods respectively, a link connecting the upper end portions of said tubes, sleeves respectively slidably mounted "onsaid tubes respectively and joined by the steering-wheel axle, and a rigid bridge rigidly connected to each of said sleevesand spanning the intervening portion of the steering-wheel. V

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

FREDERICK JOHN OSBORN. -NORMAN FREDERICK WOOD. 

